Smile 2, Netflix’s The Piano Lesson, and All the Latest Streaming Movie Releases

Each week, we at Polygon spotlight the most exciting new releases available on streaming platforms and VOD, offering you a curated list of the latest movies worth watching at home.

This week, the spotlight is on Smile 2, the much-anticipated sequel to Parker Finn’s supernatural horror debut, which is now available on VOD following its theatrical release in September. Not in the mood for supernatural scares? Perhaps a taste of sci-fi horror might suit you better. Check out Alien: Romulus, a latest chapter in the beloved Alien series, directed by Fede Álvarez of Evil Dead fame. It’s creeping onto Hulu this week, alongside the comedic drama The Good Half featuring Nick Jonas, and Firebrand, a historical drama led by Alicia Vikander.

But that’s not all there is to explore on streaming this weekend. You can dive into Blitz, a historical survival drama on Apple TV Plus. There’s also The Piano Lesson, showcasing John David Washington from Tenet fame; Spellbound, an animated adventure by Shrek director Vicky Jenson on Netflix; Blink Twice on MGM Plus; and a bunch of other fresh titles.

Here’s a look at what’s new and available for your viewing pleasure this weekend!

The Piano Lesson

• Where to Watch: Netflix
• Genre: Drama
• Run Time: 2h 5m
• Director: Malcolm Washington
• Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher

The Piano Lesson, Malcolm Washington’s debut feature film, brings August Wilson’s play to the screen. With John David Washington in the lead, the story revolves around Boy Willie Charles and his family in post-Great Depression Pittsburgh. Their battle over a family heirloom—an intricately carved piano—stirs up old grievances and ignites long-standing tensions.

Joy

• Where to Watch: Netflix
• Genre: Biographical Drama
• Run Time: 1h 55m
• Director: Ben Taylor
• Cast: Bill Nighy, Thomasin McKenzie, James Norton

In Joy, we’re transported to the 1970s to witness the remarkable tale of the first test-tube baby and in vitro fertilization development, eyesfixed on nurse Jean Purdy, scientist Robert Edwards, and surgeon Patrick Steptoe. Though met with opposition citing their work as unnatural, the trio perseveres, and gradually, Purdy’s contributions gain acknowledgment.

Spellbound

• Where to Watch: Netflix
• Genre: Fantasy Comedy
• Run Time: 1h 49m
• Director: Vicky Jenson
• Cast: Rachel Zegler, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis

Spellbound is a fresh animated musical by Vicky Jenson, famous for directing Shrek. The story of a young princess must undo a curse splitting her kingdom and turning her parents into monsters. Featuring music from Alan Menken and Rachel Zegler as the lead, this film promises a captivating soundtrack.

The Merry Gentlemen

• Where to Watch: Hulu
• Genre: Musical Rom-Com
• Run Time: 1h 27m
• Director: Peter Sullivan
• Cast: Britt Robertson, Chad Michael Murray, Marla Sokoloff

Mixing fiery dance with holiday cheer, this new Netflix film has a dancer embark on creating a male dance revue to save her family’s venue, with potential romantic elements as she teams up with the town’s attractive men. Will Christmas be saved with some extra flair and bare torsos?

Alien: Romulus

• Where to Watch: Hulu
• Genre: Sci-Fi Horror
• Run Time: 1h 59m
• Director: Fede Álvarez
• Cast: Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Isabela Merced

Set two decades post-Alien, this film from Fede Álvarez stars siblings rummaging through an abandoned space station to escape their indentured life, only to meet horrors unimaginable. More than just a good scare, Alien: Romulus brings a tussle between the eerie atmosphere and action-packed sequences.

The Good Half

• Where to Watch: Hulu
• Genre: Comedy Drama
• Run Time: 1h 36m
• Director: Robert Schwartzman
• Cast: Nick Jonas, Brittany Snow, David Arquette

Nick Jonas plays a detached writer returning to his childhood home in Ohio for his mom’s funeral. Amidst familial tangles and self-reckoning, this comedy-drama reveals new bonds and old issues, first charming audiences at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival.

Firebrand

• Where to Watch: Max
• Genre: Historical Drama
• Run Time: 2h 1m
• Director: Karim Aïnouz
• Cast: Alicia Vikander, Jude Law, Eddie Marsan

Firebrand focuses on Katherine Parr, the final wife of infamous Henry VIII, portrayed by Jude Law. Alicia Vikander’s character navigates the throne’s deadly politics and her husband’s paranoia in the final years of an unyielding reign.

Watchmen: Chapter 1

• Where to Watch: Apple TV Plus
• Genre: Superhero Drama
• Run Time: 1h 23m
• Director: Brandon Vietti
• Cast: Troy Baker, Adrienne Barbeau, Corey Burton

The iconic Watchmen universe resurfaces in this animated series. Following a superhero murder in an alternate 1985, vigilante Rorschach embarks on a quest uncovering a world-threatening conspiracy. Can he unravel the sinister plot before it’s too late?

Blitz

• Where to Watch: Apple TV Plus
• Genre: Drama
• Run Time: 2h
• Director: Steve McQueen
• Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Elliott Heffernan, Harris Dickinson

Directed by Steve McQueen, Blitz features Saoirse Ronan as a London mother in turmoil as WW2 looms, sending her son to safety. A gripping journey ensues when she discovers he never made it, pushing her to find him amidst the chaos.

Bread & Roses

• Where to Watch: MGM Plus
• Genre: Documentary
• Run Time: 1h 30m
• Director: Sahra Mani

This documentary paints a vivid picture of Afghan women enduring life under Taliban rule, focusing on three harrowing stories: Sharifa, a confined former worker; Zahra, a captured dentist/activist; and Taranom, exiled for advocacy. Its premiere at Cannes was met with high praise.

Blink Twice

• Where to Watch: Mubi US
• Genre: Psychological Thriller
• Run Time: 1h 42m
• Director: Zoë Kravitz
• Cast: Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum, Christian Slater

Frida, a cocktail bartender whisked to a private island by a tech giant, begins to unravel an ominous truth about her fellow guests. Kravitz’s debut thriller, originally titled "Pussy Island," takes viewers on a tense, unpredictable ride.

Witches

• Where to Watch: Metrograph
• Genre: Documentary
• Run Time: 1h 30m
• Director: Elizabeth Sankey
• Cast: Catherine Cho, Sophia Di Martino, David Emson

Witches, a documentary by Elizabeth Sankey, expansively explores the archetype of the witch, tying it to historical societal views on women and mental health. Clips from iconic films capture this bewitched perspective throughout cinematic history.

Smile 2

• Where to Watch: VOD
• Genre: Supernatural Horror
• Run Time: 2h 7m
• Director: Parker Finn
• Cast: Kyle Gallner, Naomi Scott, Lukas Gage

Following the events of Smile, this sequel spotlights pop star Skye Riley battling a sinister curse after a tragic accident. Witness a thrilling sequel that surpasses its precursor, cementing Parker Finn’s status as a master of horror.